Control system



2 Sheets-Sheet l CONTROL SYSTEM M. EREAGAN Filed June e, 1924 i.. L g,

Nov. 13, 1928.

roll.

` lNyENToR.

Naar/'ce E. /eqga/z v'ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

Nov. 13, 1.928,

M. E. REAGANv CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 6, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet gnante-duw. 13, 1928,

' STA PATENT OFFICE.

'iuaunrcn n. nnAGAN, on PITTSBURGH, :acusa ELEc'rnio a vaina minimisec'rUiaING COMPANY,

PENNSYLV-A-NIA., ASSIGNOB T WESTING- connor.' sYs'rEir.

' applicano; mea :une 6,'1924. serial inrfliaazi.v

My invention relates, in general, 4to control systems and more particularly. to supervisory control systems of 'the type lwherein the dispatcher at a central oiiice may supervise and control remotelydisposed electrical equipment i One object of myinvention is to provide ani'mproved supervisory control 'system for use in supervising and controlling apparatus located in small hydro-'electric sub-stations.

` *A further object of my inventionis to prolvide means for informing the dispatcher of may be sim device, the

the kilowatt input of the station-in a simple and eflicient manner.

There are numerous hydro-electric generating stations 'having automatic control equipment to obviate'the necessity for 'attendants or operatorsv at thestations. Frequently,there is a group of of each stationl on the others; for instance,

certain extent, u

yto each station depends the water supp upon .the water released bythe station above it. 11` urthermore,ltlie stations may :be connected.` 'electrically in trol to coordinate several stations to obtain cal results `under varying load conditions. My invention has been designed to meet such requirements. a -In -the .particular embodiment of my invention which I have elected to 'describeherein, the load supervisor or dispatcher is provided with ia telephone set consisting of a transmitter, a receiver, a ringer and a magneto. He is also provided with a key and a' circuit=interrupting or sending device which ar in construction to thecalling devices used'in automatic telephone systems. By means of the key and the sending dispatcher selects the desired station, the apparatus at the other stations being thereupon disconnected trol trunk. The selected station automatically transmits a distinctive signall to the dispatchers telephone tov'pi'ovide a check upon the selection. i

Upon further-'operation of the sending de'- turbine, to indicate the 'such4 stations along the course of a stream at distances as .great as several miles apart. the operation In' such case,- depends, to a order to obtain. a Vflexible Aload distribution. A system lof, Athis kind 'requires supervision and conthe operation of the. the most economivice, supervisory apparatus at selected.

station is operatedand a supervisory signal is .transmitted to the dispatchers receiver. The supervisory apparatus is operated by av vdevice that is controlled by the gate of the gate opening, which is proportional to the load, and by a loat suitably arranged to indicate the depth of water in the fore'bay. Thus' by one indication the kilowatt input of the station may be @ther ob'ects of my invention will appear vfrom the ollowing detailed description of A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYL- a system which embodies the invention, as

illustrated on the accompanying draw Referring to the drawings, Fig. llnustratesrthe telephone and control equipment at the control vstation together with the sub- Fig. 2 illustrates the apparatus at a second generating station connected to the same control v station equipment at one generating station,

F ig. 3 illustrates a modified form of ber 60, Fig. l. In the drawings, Iliave shown the relaas, switches and other apparatus schematica .as .the detailed construction of the same' is v'well known and forms no-par't of the present invention. 'The relays may be similark in construction to those disclosed 'in United States Patent No. 1,189,891 to H. G. Webster.

Certain of the relays are sluggish or slowrelease relays in which the armature is held n for an interval after the relay is deenergi from the cons Such relays are provided with a copper sleeve upon the heel of the core and I have shown them by a convention which is suggestive of their construction.

Referring to Fig. .1,.tlil dispatchers equipment ,1 comprises a transmitter 2 and a recommonly employed in automatic telephonesystems. The general arrangement ofcallpatcher to interrupt the circuit adesired number of times in rapid succession, thereby causing the operation of certain ap" aratus at the substations, as will appear. (gbviously, a-simple push-button contact' or'key mi ht be used instead of the sending device 8, u t I prefer-.to use a calling device such as' is ing devices of this kindis well knownv and vneeds nofuther description.

-f At each substation there is a polarized relay 9 or 1,09, as -the `case may be,xcontrolling. the association of the sending Ydevice 8. with.

the apparatusfat the substation. Normally, the relaysQ and 109 are inl inactive position with their contacts open. Upon the actuatio n of key 7, however-,the polarity of the .control 'trunk 5,6 is reversed and 'the relays 9 and 109 are energized'and close their contacts. This .renders the apparatus at eachA l substation operative, so that it responds lto fthe sending deice 8. `The sending device 8 is n'ow operate toy select the desiredv substation.. The apparatus at the other substa- A tions is rendered ihperative by this. selection and remains in l is condition untilthe key 7-which is ofl the type Which remains setl p the position .last placed is again'operated to restore the polarized relays to normal.A

'Upon further operationfothe sending de- .vice 8, desired operations may be effected at 'the station selected. f

' -At each station', there -are provided circuit-controlling devices such as A and 160, .which are controlledb both the gate opening -ftheturbine'an by Ja head of water' in theforebay so that the power input in 4devices 60 and 160 'comprise iscs 63 and 163l 164 controlled. byfdevioes 461 161 that are operated-responsiveto the gate opening of 86 t e tachedto the ends of thechains 64 and 164 respectively, in order to causethe operation' kilowatts of the vstatiche-may be indicated tothe dispatcher with y'one o ration. The

that are Aoperated by means of ychains 64 and turbines. Weights and 16.5." are atof the discs6'3 and 163. `The `discsa and 163 carry ten contacts, such as thoseat 66 and 166, which are connected towarous bank contacts accessible Vto wipers l41'` and 141 of the rotary sending switches at the various substations. Bank contacts, such as^66 and .166, are Abe engaged by wipers- 6 7 and'167.

'or sending device 8.

tol ground ers 67 and 167 are operated by shafts 68 and 'A 168 to which are attached gears 69and 1 69. The gears 69 and 169 are rotated by chains 70 and 170 that are controlled -by* the floats 62 and 162. Weights 71 and 171 are attached to the chains 70 and 170, respectively, for 'givingr proper operation of the chains.

It will be noted that the disc member 63 is under the c'ontrol oi the gate and assumes different positions in accordance with the de-v gree of opening of the gate. The position of the disc member 63 determines the contact upon which the wiper67 rests so that this position is determined by the (gateopening. 80

he wiper 67 ,on the other han is under the control of the water level through'the shaft 68, member (0 and oat 62. .The particular .l

Contact point upon which wiper '67 will rest'therefore depends, it will be seen', both upon the gate opening and water level ythat this position` alwaysdeterminesthe power input to the generator. When the water head 'i's low a-larger gateopening necessary for the saine power input as compared to a system with-a higher water'head. The telephones at the different stations are connected through condensers 4, 94 and 194 tothe control trunk 5,-6. The control trunk -Arnay therefore be used for signalling and communication whenever it ivs'notgin use for" supervisingand controlling purposes. The telephone circuits are similar to the ordinary local battery magrleto circuits. 'A person desiring to converse with a party at another f station listens in -his receiver to make sure that the control trunk is not in use and then.

operates his magneto to ring the code signal of the wanted station inthe usual manner. Upon the response of the party at'tlie wanted station by removi'n his receiver from the switchblock, the tal and conversation may carried on.

Jil() circuit is completed The detailed operation of thesystem is as follows .I ltewillbe seen that, as the-gate opening isl varied, the device 61 is operated and, -consetlie bank -contacts into engagementwith the wiper' 67. 4The wiper 67 is moved'by the operationfof the-' float 62. -The'bank con- ,tact which is engaged byl thewiper 67 thus depends upon the gate opening andthe head ofjwater' in the forebay. 'As the result of these twoindications giving the input of thestation, the bank Contact with which the wiper 67 is in engagement gives the a lio vquently, the disc l63 is rotated t'o move one of proximate kilowatt iniut off the station. y

varying the number o bank contacts, such as 66, the kilowatt input' may be indicated to.v

an degree of accuracy desired.

` hen the'gate openin .is increased, the disc 63 is rotated in a c ockwise direction, as indicated by lthe farr'ow. When the water level rises,- the `wiper 67 is rotated in a counter-.clockwise direction, as. indicated by iso theaf'rom The brent-ion 'f meldt-Lirico 16o at the second substation the same as that ceiv'e absolutely accu-rate indications,

disc 63 may .be eccentric,

power is of relays 18 and described; l

It has been assumed that the amount of' directly proportional tothe 'gate opening.' Theoretically, the gate 'o ening is not quite directly proportional. o rlet e as shown in Fig.' 3, to correspond to the proper proportions.

The dispatcher operates t e key 7 to reverse thev polarity whereupon relays 9 and 109 closethcir contacts andestablish energizing circuits .for the lslow relays 19 and 11,9. A circuit is nowt closed from Vgrounded battery through the left-hand` make contacts of key 7, conductor 5, in parallel through the windings 118, the front contacts .of relays 19 and 119, .the back contacts of re- 'lays 25 and 125, conductor 6 to ground at the right-hand make contactsof key 7.

`Relays 18 and 118 becoie'energized and close through their front contacts energizing circuits for'slow relays 10 and 1 10, where- Aupon these 'relays become energized. The

. described operations are completed within a fraction of a second after the dispatcher substation (Fig.

l .gized three times.

operates the keg1 7.

lThe dispatc er 'now selects the desired substation.v Assuming this to be the first '1), he operates the sending device 8 to. cause three short 'interruptions of the control circuit in 'rapid succession.' Relays 18 and 118 respond to these current impulses, becoming deenergized and' reener- The armatures of-the slow relays 10 and 1 10 are maintained in their actuated positions during these impulses magnet 20 are 20 `drives the each deenergization 'slow lrelay 11 and because of the rapidity with which the energizin circuits of these relays are reestablishe Upon the iirs't a circuit is closed from ground through its armature and back contact, thevright-hand outer armature and back contactof relay 25, in parallel through the armatures and front 'contacts o .relay 10 and the' windings of motor magnet 20 to grounded battery. The relay 11 and the then energized. The magnet switch wipers 22, 23 and- 24 through a suitable pawl-and-ratchet or similar mechanism. The switch wi ers travel over rows of contactsgol termina s, as indicated, the arrangement being such that, upon of the driving magnet 20, the wipers22, 23 -and 24 are stepped in Aunison `from one contact to the next in a counter-clockwise direction. The detailed construction of a switch of this type is shown?.-

in United States Patent No. 1,107,153 to.

Clement. Another switch of this type is indicated at 38 to 41.

Upon thesucceeding reeuergization of re- 23 and 24 into engagement of the control trunk 5, 6

deenergization of relay 18,.

vof relay 21 should be made before the enerplished by lay 18, the circuit of the relay 10 is reclosed and th circuit -of relay' 11 and the motor magnet 20'is broken. The magnet 20 becomes deenergized, stepping the wipers 22, with their first contacts. The slow rela 11 doesnot restore its armatures immediate y.

The following deener ization of relay 18 recloses the circuit of t e relay 11 and the motor maonet 20, thereby retaining the arcircuit,vthe` operation o relay 18 and the -motor' magnet 20 is repeated, whereupon the lmature oia relay 11 and reenergizing the switch wipers 22, 23 and 24 are stepped into engagement with' their third contacts. At the second substation relays 118, 111 and the motor magnet 120 will be' operated in exactly the 'same manner as the corresponding relays 18 and 11 and the'magnet 20 at the first substation. The switch wipers 122, 123 and 124 are now in engagement with their third contacts.

The controlling impulses have now ceased and relays 10, 18, 110 and 118 remain energized. After a moment, the slow relays 11 and 111 restore their armatures, the energizing circuits of these relays having been broken by '.the relays 18 and 118. A circuit is nowv closed from ground through the armature and front contact of relay 18, the` armatures and back contacts of relays 11 and 21, wiper 23 in engagement with its third contact and the winding of relay 21 to grounded battery.- The relay 21 is energized and locks up through its middle armature and front contact to ground at the middle armature and front contact of relay 19. It

will be understood that this lockingcontact giz'ingr circuit described is broken at the back c ntact of the same relay, this being accomthe proper contact spring adjustment in t e usual manner A circuit is now closed from ground at relay 418 through the left-hand armature and front contact of relay 21, and the winding of relay 12 to grounded battery. Another circuit is closed" from round at 'relay 18 thrqggh the outer rightand armature .ad

fron'tfftontact' of relay 21, wiper 24 in Veugagement with its third contact, and lthe winding Relays 12 and 26 becomeenergzed. Upon the energi'zation ofA relay 26, a circuit is from groundthrough its outer armature and front contact, armature and back contact of slow relay 36 .and the wind- .ing of the motor magnet 37 to grounded bat- "tei-y. Themotor magnet 37 becomes energized and closes the circuit of relay36. The' lll iad

of relay 26 to grounded battery would then ,be -operatedand in conjunction cnergization "of relay 36 :opens the circuit 'of the motor magnet'37 whereupon this magnet-becomes deenergi'zed, stepping the switchwipers 38, 39, .and 41 into en agement 'with their first contacts.. Upon tie -subsequent "deenergizationof relay 36, the'c'ircuitof the magnet 37 will be recl'o`sed. The describedoperations 4will be repeated andthe` switch wipers-'38 to 41 stepped continuously therefore until 'the relay26-becomes deener.

A `Uponthe engagement of the wiper 4ojwith ground through the.inne`r` armature and l5 its first contact,a= circuit is closed from.

-front contact of relay 26, wiper 110. and the magnet .of the single stroke bell, represented f atlll, to grounded battery. This bell isjenclosed in a casingwith an ordinary tele#v phone" transmitter 14 .whichis inductively connected throughfthev armatures and front contacts of relay vl2 to the control trunk 5,'6.- The dispatcher will therefore be able' toA hearin his'reciver '3. the sound of the hellfl. As the'wiper'- 40 is stepped over itsicontact's,. the bell 15. will be actuated three-times and,

ently positioned contacts of the rows with 'which the switch wipers 23 cooperate and the remaining contacts of these ,rows being arranged to operate the disconnecting relay.

Returning to `F ig. 1, let us assume that the dispatcher desires to ascertain the applroximatekilowatt load on the substation.

e-.operates the. sending device 8 to produce aCsingle interruption of the control circuit. The relay 18 becomes deenergized, whereupon a. circuit is closed from ground through the armatures and back contacts of relays 18 and y25 andin parallel througlr the wi' c lingsof relay 11 and magnet 20 to grouli ed batterya'y'llhe relay' 11 and .the magnet ,20 become energized.- Upon the subsequent 4en'ergization of relay 18, the circuit \ofthe relayll andthe magnet 20 is broken, where- Y upon the switch wipers 22,' 23. and '24 are stepped into engagement with 'their fourth contacts. -flfhe circuit of relay 26.is nowV 'broken andi ceases.. vAfter a short interval, the relay 11 re' if 'the dispatcher Waits, tl1e' three.'stroke s -stores its armature, whereupon a'v circuit will .be repeated indefimtely.- In this Way,

. tion of relay 111, Aas described, a circuit closed from ground through the -armature z.and :front- Contactl of relaylS, the' arma# tures and `b ackfcontacts* .of relays 111 and 121, wiper 123 inen'gagement with its third contact, and the winding of relay-125 to 119. Init'smiddle .armature and yback con- .grounded 'battery'. Relay 125.becomes ener-l ad.

gized and locksnp through. its leftfhand armature and front contact to ground at the l outer armature andffront contact ofl relay' tact,relay 125 interrupts the circuit of relay 1118, `whereupon this relay" becomes deener.-

glzed and causes 'the deenergiz'ation of relay 110. -The impulserelay 118- is now open- .ci r'cuite dand will not- -re'spond toJ further operation of the .sending devi'c'e 8; If 4'theclispatcher .h'ad=.selected the .second f substation (Fig. 2.) by producing-"four cir" cuit vinterruptions withfthesending device 8,- the switch wiper 123 wouldhavelcome' v to rest upon-its fourth contact,- caus'ing the operation of relay 121..- Relays .112'and`126 s with the switch 137, wiper '140, transmitter i 114nnd bell `1.15 .would signal' the dispatcher that station 4 `had been selected.- The ape-a paratus at the .first `substation (Fig 1),A

. would have been renderedl inoperative 'as .describedfin connection with Fig.l 2.- It 1s is closed from ground at relay 18, 'through theloper'ationhof the bell '15h'. I

the armature' andsback contact of `relay 11,

the right-hand outer armature and- .front contact of relay 2.1, the wiper 24 in engagement lwith its fourth contact, and the wind, ing of rela "30 'tdgroundedl battery. The

relay 30 ecomes energized and closes 'f5 throughits middle armature and front contact .an energizingfcircuit for' the motormagnet 37. The'motor magnet 37, in conloo' 'junction 4'with the. interrupting' .relay 36,

stepslthewipers. 38 tof-41 continuously over their associated contactsiso long as the wiper 24 remains upon its fourth contact 'and restore to, normal, whenfreleased v I 'f 1 When the Wiper 39 engagesitsjfirst con- `tact, a circuit is closed 'from ground through l the letehand armature andfront contact of l I rela-y 30, theiaudible signal 1,7 which .may

be a' bellofr' lbuzzer, wiper.39,`and'.theright-- yhand armature'l andback -contact of relayl 35 to grounded battery. ;A. similar. circuit is completed when the wiper .39. veng third, fifth,- etc.,Contacts 4 sc that the' load ages- -its dispatcher hears in his re iver -tdhe intermittent operation oftlie signal 17.

its fifteenth contact, .the eighth` signal fini-f piilse'is transmitted. When the wiper 39` enga es its .sixteenth contact, acircu-it is closecgl from 'grounded battery through the V.When the wiper 39 is in engagement with i winding .of relay' 35, wiper -41, -Contact 67 w in engagement with'. its uppermost contact and the righthand outer armature and front contact of' relay 30 to ound. The relay 35 becomes energized, .loc vupthrough its lefthandarmature' and 'front 'Contact to' ground through-a resistance coil, andl'opens its right-hand armature and back'contact I .the described energizing circuit for the signal 17, whereupon the signals cease When the wiper 41 en lay35, thereby unlocking this relay to permit subsequent -repetitionof the slgnalling operation; This operation is` repeated in lanl evident manner so long as the wiper 24 remains in engagement with its vfourthcontact.

lay operates depends upon the bank conv"tact with whichv the wiper '67 of the device 60 isl in engagement. This bank contact is variable, depending ipon the height of vthe water in the forebay and the gate openin as described before. The signals sent bac to the dispatcher thus indicate the kilowatt output of the station. The switch contacts withwhich the wiper 67 cooperatesare con--v nected to alternate contacts in the bank aci cess'ible to the wiper 41 so as to disconnect tact of the bank Contact set cooperating with; the "wiper A39 :has been connected so as to operate the signal 17, though this contact is not :normally effective. The greatest num- 'may be connected to the control trunk 5, 6

bero-impulses that-can normally be vsent withthe arrangement shown is ten.' However, if the circuit through the wipers 31 and 41 tofthe relay 35 is broken or the relay 35 is rendered ine'ective in some other way,

,elevensi'gnal impulses will be sent by reason' of the connection of the seventeenth contact of the wiper 39. This will indicate to the dispatcher that some derangrement of the ap# paratus has prevented it om functioning pro erly.Y I the dispatcher-desires to eiiect some operation at the substation, he operates-the sending device to select are'lay., such as 27 or 28.4 These relays are connected to contactsj'of wiper 24, and upon selecting -the desired relay by stepping the switch wipers 22, 23 and 24 under the control of the impulse relay 18 as described, a circuit is closed from battery at the 'relay through wiperv24, the

outer right-hand armature and frontcony tact of relay 21, armature and back contact of relay 11 and armature and front contact ofrelay 18 to ground. The relay, such as 2 8, 'becoincs energized .and closes 'a circuit through its armature and front contact lfor e'ecting the desire stance, this circuitclosure may be utilized to clbse ortri the circuit breakers, connecting the substation to thetransmission line, or to operate a motor controlling the tu'rbine valve .Any desired number'of these controlling relays may be connected to the contacts of wiper 24 1n the same manner as 27 and 28.

l ages its last contact, a cirlcuit 1s closed tooattery in shunt of the re- The point at which the disconnecting reoperation. For in.

I When the Adispatchf'er has completed the desired voperations at the first substation,

he restoresthe key 7 te normal, thereby opening the contacts of thepolarized relayl 9, 109. Uponthe restoration of relay 9, re-

lay 19 becomes deenergized. 'I he deenergization ofrelay 19 opens the circuits of re lays 18 and 2*-1. The deenergization of rela 1 8 causes the deenergization of relays 10 an 1 2. Upon the deenergization of rela 19, circuits are closed from ground throng the armatures' and back contacts 4of relay 19,

of the y20 and relay 36 and -the wind battery.

magnets '20 and. 37 to grounde scribed, -relay- 119-becomes deenergized. In

'its middle armature and front contact, :relay 119. opens the locking circuit of relay 125 whereupon this relay becomesdeenergized. In-- its armatures and back contacts, relay -119 closesenergizingcircuits for the motor magnets 120 and 13 ,whereupon the switch .wigers are steppedjsoA their normal ositions. bviously, a greater number o stations than those' shown.' in the case of the stations'shown, the selecting relays 21 are connected to: separate -or unused contacts of thewipers 23 1n each station. The additional contacts of the wipers 24'are. connected in order tothetrelays 30, 26, 28 and 27. These relays should be connected in the same 'order in all stations" so that a certain code number represents similar operatlons in all stations and only ,the first or station-selecting number is different for each-station.

I have"described in detail one embodiment of m invention in 'order that it may be readi y understood and in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes. I

do not consider my invention limited to the embodiment 'herein shown yandl described, however.v In` particular, my 4invention 1s not limited to any particular type of substation, 'though I have described it in connection with so'called hydro-electric generating stations, but in certain aspects it is applicable to other stations .or installations electrical or otherwise, of radically different natu-re.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a signalling system, a first station, a-second station including a. switch comprising a bank of contacts, a movable member comprising a bank of contacts each 'of which is connected to an individual contact on said switch, means for moving said member in accordance with a variable quantitv.. a contact memberarranged to wipe 'Wipers' 22 and 38, normal contacts of magnet The motor lmagnets 20 and 37 step their rel Y A over said movable member contacts, means for moving said movable contact member in accordance -withuasecond variable uantity Whereb said contact member w1 .gage one o said movable member contacts t pending upon both of said variable quan# c titlesand a 'code transmitter means incud j ing circuit connections between lsaid .switch- -bank andsaidanovable member for trans? mitting a `code combination of impulses to said rst station' in accordance with 4the `conwater, means for 'moving tact engaged by said contact member. l

.2. In a signalling system, a irst-station,

A-a second station-including a switch compris# 'ing'a bank of contacts, a movable member comprising a bank of contacts each of which is connected tov an individualcontact on said switch, a source of power comprising a body of water having a variable heada gatehav ing a variable opening orv said body of said member in --accordancewith the variations in"o,pen in`g whereby said contact member will engage of said gate, a contact member arranged to wipe over said movable contacts, means for moving 'said contact member inaccordance with the variations `in said` water head a contact on sa'id movable contact'me-mber under control of both 'said water' head and gate opening including 4circuit connections between sald switch bank and said, movable `member -for transmittin 'La f code -combination of i1 n pulses to said first station in accordance with the `contact'. engaged by said contact member.

ell-

and acodetransmitter means 3. a signalling system,.a first station, a' second station including a noi'mally non- 'operating switcheomprising a-bank of contacts, a signalling lineconnecting said stations, a movable member-comprising a bank individual contact on said switch, means for movin' said member in accordance with a `40 of contactsv each of which is connected to anvariab e quantity, a contact"member arranged to wipe over said-movable` member contacts, means for moving'said movable contact member 1n accordance with alsecond variable quantity/'whereby said contact member Will engave one ofhsaid movable member contacts epending u pon both of said variablequantitms,code transmitter means including circuit connectionsbetween said switch bank andsaid movable member and including said signalling line for transmitting a codecombmation of impulses to said first station in accordance with the con-4 tact engaged by said contact member, means including said signalling linel for transmitting impulses `romysaid first to said vsecond station, means .at said s'ec'ond'station' -responsive to said impulses forstarting said MAURICE REGAN.

rststation 'respon- 

